Tiong Claims Of Alcohol Served At Tourism Malaysia Dinner Baseless

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Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has dismissed allegations by Masjid Tanah member of parliament Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin that alcoholic drinks were served at a dinner hosted by Tourism Malaysia, causing Muslim guests to leave early. — NSTP FILE PICKUALA LUMPUR: Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing has dismissed allegations by Masjid Tanah member of parliament Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin that alcoholic drinks were served at a dinner hosted by Tourism Malaysia, causing Muslim guests to leave early.
Tiong said the claims were completely baseless and misleading, adding that the dinner in question was not organised by Tourism Malaysia but by private sector players who had supported the Global Travel Meet event.
"Tourism Malaysia was only responsible for organising the two-and-a-half-day Global Travel Meet, which generated an estimated RM420 million in economic impact," he said in a statement posted on his Facebook page last night.
"The dinner that Mas Ermieyati referred to was actually an initiative by industry players and the private sector.
"They were enthusiastic because, for the first time, Malaysia took the initiative to host such a global event.
"Out of that spirit, they decided to sponsor and host their international partners at the dinner."
He said it was regrettable that Mas Ermieyati chose to "undermine a positive effort" aimed at boosting Malaysia's tourism image.
"If she does not share the same enthusiasm, that is fine, but she should not sabotage good initiatives and efforts such as this," he said.
He also urged Mas Ermieyati not to misuse the Federal Constitution to mislead the public, stressing that the dinner was a non-official event and had nothing to do with constitutional matters.
"Making statements without understanding the actual facts not only confuses the public but also reveals ignorance," he said.
"If individuals like Mas Ermieyati continue to issue baseless and slanderous statements merely to gain attention, it will only create doubt and erode international confidence in Malaysia - ultimately benefiting no one."
He said that Tourism Malaysia's role was limited to facilitating the event and taking the opportunity to launch the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) Calendar of Events during the dinner.
"Our role was focused on coordinating cultural and artistic performances and launching the VM2026 Calendar of Events, which featured 318 events from every state in Malaysia," he said.
He said Tourism Malaysia was not responsible for any food or beverages served during the dinner.
Tiong said the organisers had provided ample non-alcoholic drink options to accommodate Muslim guests and other international attendees.
"The ministry has always respected Malaysia's cultural and religious diversity and will never allow any distortion of facts," he said.
He also called on Mas Ermieyati to focus on matters that contribute to national development, such as supporting sustainable economic growth and helping promote Malaysia's tourism sector.
"The tourism industry can serve as a catalyst for job creation and foreign exchange earnings.
"Through Visit Malaysia 2026, we aim to elevate the country's image to greater heights.
"More importantly, she too has a responsibility to promote tourism in her own state and constituency." - NST

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